Second Baptist Church of Redlands to celebrate 120th anniversary

This weekend, the Second Baptist Church of Redlands will celebrate its 120th anniversary and 25 years of service by Pastor Anthony Green and his wife, Bishop Jackie L. Green.

An appreciation event for Pastor Anthony Green will be at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday services for the 120th anniversary celebration begin at 11 a.m., with Associate Pastor Glen Robertson preaching. There will also be a 4 p.m. service with Pastor Larry Thomas of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Ontario.

Guest churches and choirs will participate in the services, and the public is welcome to attend.

Theme of the celebration is "Called and Commissioned With Compassion and Courage to Confess Their Faith in Christ as Salt and Light" (from Matthew 5:13-16).

Honorees will be the five oldest living members, ages 79 to 93.

Salt and Light Awards will be given to three former members, the Rev. Richard Bryant, former interim pastor; Rosa Connors, former first lady; and Greg Baugh, former youth minister.

Chairmen for the 120th anniversary celebration are Melissa Richey and Wendell Green.

A historical souvenir book will be available as part of the celebration.

As Anthony Green celebrates 25 years of community service in Redlands, he is also being honored for being the longest serving pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Redlands.

He is known for his original Christian play productions and his work the past 10 years with Midnight Basketball at the Redlands Community Center, in collaboration with the Redlands Police Department.

Jackie Green has worked with her husband and served as church historian as well as preaching and teaching. She has helped to build the church's prayer, worship and Christian education. She has mobilized citywide prayer and statewide prayer events. She is also a church planter and author.

In 2002 she founded New Generation Christian Fellowship Church of Phoenix, Ariz., and still serves as senior pastor. As a bishop, she oversees ministries in the United States and Africa.

The Greens have four adult children, all serving in various capacities of ministry.

The Second Baptist Church of Redlands was the first African American church founded in the city of Redlands.

The church was founded in 1892 and incorporated in 1899. The Rev. Sebron Lee was the first pastor. From its inception it began to fellowship with the Second Baptist Church of Riverside and later with the First Baptist Church of Redlands.

The church has had 30 pastors and three locations. The first was on Orange Street. The church sold that building and relocated to East State Street in 1891 opposite Mr. Sterling's place. In 1924 the church bought land at 420 E. Stuart Ave., the present location, and the church was built by 1928.

In 1947 the church became known in Redlands for its quartet gospel music under Pastor Charles Hopkins and its professional cooks and chefs.

In 1976 the church purchased 4.67 acres on Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue for a future church site.

In 1983, a young preacher and his wife, Anthony W. Green and Jackie Green, came to the church.

In their ministry, they have worked to make the church a community presence and "salt and light" to youth. They have also built relationships with other Redlands churches and worked with the Redlands Police Department, Redlands Human Relations Commission, Church Women United, the University of Redlands and Juvenile Hall.

The Greens' ministry has expanded over the past 25 years and spans four generations of member families.